PIN FLAG SCALES NEW HEIGHTS 

Photo: Royal Dornoch captain Gary Bethune (left) receives a club pin flag from David Sullivan which reached 17,500 feet on Mount Everest 

CPR campaigner David Sullivan had a special reason for returning to Royal Dornoch. 

He made the trip north from his Surrey home to present club captain Gary Bethune with a pin flag. 

But this was no ordinary memento. 

Its journey may have begun in the Royal Dornoch pro shop – but it had gone where no other had gone before. 

This pin flag flew proudly at Everest Base Camp, before David tucked it away along with a defibrillator for a helicopter trip to 5332 metres (nearly 17,500feet). 

Hard on the heels of demonstrating basic lifesaving techniques to greenkeeping staff, and leading locals through a community heart start class, David made tracks for Tibet, determined to prove an insulated, battery-operated Code Blue defibrillator – like the one fitted to the exterior of the Halfway House on the Championship Course – wouldn’t be stymied by either the elevation or the plunging temperatures.  

“I was determined to fly the flag for Royal Dornoch and take their pin flag to new and probably record-breaking heights. 

“It was a proud moment presenting captain Gary with the far-travelled flag months after my last visit to Dornoch,” said David, who has been thrilled with the support shown by the club for introducing potentially life-saving technology on golf courses. 

The flag also acknowledges Sherpa Passan, who looked after David every step of the way. 

Campaigner David, who has lost close friends to heart attacks on the golf course, has seen Royal Dornoch fit Code Blue defibrillators to all their buggies, with a groundbreaking unit also fitted at the Halfway House. 

Having given greenkeepers a class on lifesaving CPR techniques, he was well placed to offer the same tips to Sherpa guides and villagers. 

And soon after leaving kit in a village on the trekking route, David was informed it had been used to save the life of a French woman. 

David admitted the Royal Dornoch logo had attracted attention on Mount Everest, with a deal struck to join an American group on a golfing trip to the Highlands next year. 

“The name Royal Dornoch and the club wildcat logo is recognised among golfers around the world,” he said.